(UPDATE) While Sen. Manny Pacquiao is in the U.S. for a boxing match, the biggest fight of his political career is unfolding back home, against a surprise opponent -- President Rodrigo Duterte.
Pacquiao was removed as president of PDP-Laban Saturday during a national meeting that he snubbed, but was attended by the President. Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi, who is pushing for Duterte's vice ppresidential candidacy next year, was elected to replace the fighting senator.
The change in leadership at PDP-Laban came after weeks of testy exchanges between Duterte, the party chairman, and Pacquiao over alleged corruption in government and Manila's China policy. Pacquiao's camp has refused to recognize Saturday's proceedings.
Without PDP-Laban, Pacquiao would have to face a worst-case scenario of running for higher office as an independent, said political analyst Ramon Casiple. Pacquiao has not official declared his candidacy for president or vice president.
“Kapag hindi niya bitawan yung kanyang balak na tumakbo, obligado na siya na magsarili. Depende na ngayon yan kung ano ang naiwan sa kanyang kampo,” said Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform.
“Kung hindi nila ma-resolve yan, halata mo magkakaroon ng division yung partido. Either one has to go out. It could be Manny Pacquiao kasi baguhan lang siya diyan sa partido na yan,” political analyst Ramon Casiple told reportr.
Duterte and Pacquiao’s falling out
The two PDP-Laban leaders have recently found themselves in a word war as Duterte threw tirades at Pacquiao almost every time he delivered a public address.
The President last month threatened to expose the senator as a "liar" unless he proves corruption in government. Earlier, the 76-year-old leader even said the lawmaker’s geopolitical knowledge, particularly on the West Philippine Sea, was lacking.
In all these instances, Pacquiao was always on the defensive, which is unlike his Pac-Man persona in the boxing ring.
"I am not attacking the President. Baka mali lang yung perception nila but I’m helping the President. Kasi kung advocacy niya ay against corruption, katulong ako," the senator said in an earlier Teleradyo interview.
Pacquiao’s assessment of the government’s actions on the West Philippine Sea should also not be perceived as criticism. His camp issued such a statement after PDP-Laban’s Bulacan chapter criticized the senator over his comments on the maritime dispute.
Despite his falling out with the President and some of his partymates, Pacquiao maintained that he still enjoys the support of thousands of PDP-Laban members. He claimed that he has secured "more than 10,000" signatures of support from the party's "active and qualified" members.
"Sila mismo ang nagpirma at nag-commend sa aking trabaho as president of PDP. Suportado nila ako," Pacquiao said, adding that he could even get 50,000 signatures or half of the party’s membership.
On Saturday, Duterte blamed Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, the party's executive vice chairman, over the division among PDP-Laban members, saying that the senator should not have designated Pacquiao as acting president.
"There is no law in the bylaws at itong constitution which would provide for an acting president solely upon the push and shove of the president. Ang nagkamali diyan si Koko, hindi si Pacquiao," Duterte said during the PDP-Laban national assembly.
"I don't know what prompted him to just push Pacquiao as acting president. You have to elect people," he added.
A win for the opposition?
Pacquiao’s disagreements with Duterte and PDP-Laban will not only impact the senator’s political plans --- it will also be a boost for the opposition come 2022, according to Liberal Party vice chairman Franklin Drilon.
“It will certainly help kapag nahati ang administration,” Drilon said during a Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum.
“The party in power is being split into two. How this would affect the 2022 election will be a matter that will be discussed in the coffeeshops and the media in the next several weeks,” he added.
Casiple agreed, saying that the squabbles within the party will affect the strength of the ruling party ahead of the 2022 elections.
“Kung hindi mareresolba, mahahati yung partido at magpapahina yun. Yung ibang kalaban nila ay matutuwa kasi maghahati yung administrasyon," he said.
Casiple said it’s up to PDP-Laban how to resolve the infightings within the group. What’s important is that they mend their differences before next year’s elections.
And even as his future in the party is uncertain, Pacquiao remains true to his duties as party president --- to avoid their further division and to protect their values and principles.
“As president of the party, ginagampanan ko yung tungkulin ko. Ayaw ko kasing sabihin ng mga members na iniwanan kami ni president namin, hindi kami pinaglaban. Gusto ko ipaglaban ang karapatan ng partido, ang karapatan ng bawat isa,” he said.
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